Alabama Woman Involved in Fatal School Bus Crash Faces Legal Battle Over Medical Crisis
An Alabama woman involved in a fatal school bus crash in Auburn reportedly experienced a medical crisis during the accident, according to her supporters. Theresa McCloud, 75, is facing charges of vehicular homicide and criminal negligence for the November 18, 2025 collision that resulted in the death of Jennifer Leigh Cooper, a local bakery owner.
McCloud was driving a school bus for Auburn City Schools when she collided with another vehicle, resulting in Cooper's death. Supporters of McCloud claim that she suffered a medical crisis during the crash, citing a lawsuit filed by Cooper's husband against McCloud and the Auburn City Schools Board of Education.
According to the lawsuit, McCloud had diabetes and had been prescribed opiates, which she had taken on the day of the accident despite feeling unwell. The medications came with a warning against driving while under their influence. A GoFundMe page, which has since been removed, stated that McCloud experienced a sudden drop in blood sugar while driving, leading to confusion and loss of consciousness.
McCloud's supporters maintain that she had never experienced such a medical emergency before and that doctors confirmed it was a crisis. Despite this, McCloud turned herself in on September 4, 2026, to face the legal charges connected to the incident. The lawsuit alleges that McCloud lost control of the bus due to her medical conditions, use of opiates, or a combination of both.
The lawsuit further claims that the opiates and diabetes severely impaired McCloud's ability to drive, making her unfit to perform her duties as a bus driver. McCloud's family disputes these allegations, while Fox News Digital has reached out to the school district for comment on the matter.